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Friday, 22 June 2012

What You Really Think at the White House

Despite our being Canadian, one of the things we were really looking forward to seeing on our recent trip to Washington was the White House. I don't really know why...it wasn't like I was expecting to wander around the halls and bump into the president or anything, but it just seemed like it would be a really cool thing to see.

And it was. When you stand out front of the White House and look across the lawn, it sets your mind wandering. You know you're in a historical location, and if you listen, you'll probably hear people saying things like "Wow, that's where the President lives!", or "It's smaller than it looks on TV." These are the kind of things that people say out loud, but it's not what they're thinking. What they're thinking is the same thing I was thinking, and the same thing that almost everybody who stands out front of the White House thinks...

"I could make that."

Seriously, for the home of the most powerful man in the world, that's not a very high fence, and once you get over that fence, there doesn't really seem to be a whole lot stopping you from getting to the front door. Now I'm sure this isn't a good idea. I have no doubt that there's a lot more security on the grounds of the White House than it looks like. There's this guy for example....

He might be facing the wrong way at the moment, but even my catlike reflexes probably aren't quick enough to make it to the front door before he turns around. I might be able to make it to the fountain, but who knows what they've got stored in there. It's those kind of things that make it interesting though. Once you're over the fence, you really have no idea what's going to happen.

Now I'd like it on the record, specifically for any Secret Service members who happen to be reading this, that I never did try and make it over the fence. As usual, the mere fact that I thought it was a good idea tipped me off to the fact that it was probably a horrible one. Besides, I was there with Lori and she never lets me do anything that fun stupid. I think I've accomplished my goal though, as from now on you'll never be able to stand in front of the White House gate without wondering which route Steve was planning to take, and if one day in the future you see a news story about somebody jumping the fence at the White House, you're going to smile. You might also want to clear the history on your browser. Having this page in there just might make you an accomplice or something.